Despite the prevalence of smart devices like the iPhone, some businesses still send documents over fax. This is particularly troublesome for small businesses or individual users who don’t have access to a fax machine. Fortunately, there are ways to send and receive faxes on iPhone and iPad. Several apps and services allow digital communications to be sent across phone lines to dedicated fax machines. Here’s a look at how to fax from iPhone and iPad as well as some of the best apps and services for sending or receiving faxes.
How to send a fax from iPhone or iPad | Best apps
In order to send a fax from an iPhone or iPad, you’ll need to utilize third-party software or services. Several mobile and web apps are available, including Fax Burner, eFax, and Fax.Plus. Just remember that you may have to pay a fee or sign up for a paid subscription in order to send a fax from an iOS device.
For now, there is no native way to send faxes in iOS. And since every fax service works a little differently, no single how-to guide can cover every angle. Fortunately, there are a few easy places to start. Keep reading to learn about the best ways to send a fax from an iPhone or iPad either for free or through a paid service.
Best free app – Fax Burner
Of the different fax apps available on the Apple Store, Fax Burner is among the most popular. This app boasts the ability to send and receive faxes from iOS devices entirely for free. Of course, there are some limitations: It can only be used to receive 25 pages per month and send up to five pages. Otherwise, you’ll need to sign up for the annual fax service, which costs $99.99 per year.
Still, the app does have several useful features. Dropbox support is baked-in, meaning you can send files from across several devices. Even better, each received fax is backed up locally and via email so it never gets lost. If you simply need to sign and return a single document, this app should fit the bill nicely.
Best free/paid app – Fax.Plus
Fax.Plus is another popular iOS fax app. It supports both sending and receiving, including the option to send faxes from emails. The app can scan and automatically detect document contents straight from the phone, and several file formats are supported. Like with eFax mentioned below, the app includes the option to e-sign documents, removing the need to print and scan them again. It’s also based around a web portal, meaning you won’t be limited just to iOS devices.
One of the best features of Fax.Plus is the free tier. It’s limited to 10 pages total, but users have the option to pay $0.20 per page in order to send extra faxes individually. Unlike Fax Burner, however, the free tier does not include the option to receive faxes.
Otherwise, subscription costs are competitive. The basic $4.99/month tier allows users to send or receive up to 100 pages, while the $49.99/month Enterprise tier increases that number to 1,000. Plus, any paid tier is eligible to use a dedicated fax number.
Best subscription service – eFax
Technically, the eFax service is not limited to iOS. All of the functions run through the internet, meaning it’s accessible basically any web-connected device. This is the best option for power users who want to be able to send and receive faxes from everything from Android to iPhone devices to Mac and Windows PCs.
Numerous features are available, including the ability to e-sign documents and both send and receive faxes from an iPhone. Each account is also given a unique toll-free number, as opposed to the randomized number offered in other free apps.
Of course, it does cost. The eFax Pro subscription allows users to send and receive up to 150 pages for $16.95 per month. If you need more than that, the eFax Pro subscription ramps the number up to 200 pages incoming/outgoing for just $19.95 per month. Either way, you will get stuck with a one-time $10 setup fee. Luckily, you can always start a 14 day free trial and cancel before the renewal period begins.
